Addressing-machine.



Patented May 22, |900.

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

l A] Wmvor/Qmoemfoz Md 4 m w /x/ v 4 I? Patented 4may 22,y |900. A. T.wENTwonTH.

ADDBESSING MACHINE.

(Application led. May 18, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' nmnlllllllllllllllllf. A'

TTED STATES PATENT i OFFICE.

ADDSON T. VVENTWORTII, OF BEDFORD, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF NINE-AFOURTEENTI'IS TO F. L. ARTHAUD, OF SAME PLACE.

ADDREsslNG-MACHINE.

srncrrrcrnrro'NV forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,973, dated May22, 1900. Application filed May 18, 18199. Serial No. 7175339. (Nomodel.)

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADDISON T. WENT- WORTH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bedford, in the county of Taylor and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Addressing-Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

y This invention relates to addressing or mailing machines, and has forone object to prol vide a new and useful machine of this charaeterdesigned for addressing newspapers, letJ ters, and all printed matter tobe sent through the mails.

l To this end the invention primarily contemplates an addressing-machineso constructed as to provide simple and efficient means for running outa paper strip containing a number of names and post-office addresses insuccessive order, pasting or gumming the strip, severing the individuallabels from the strip, and stamping the same upon the mail-matter to beaddressed, and then automatically resetting itself for the next name andaddress, the said operation being accomplished by manipulating themachine inthe same manner as an ordinary hand-stamp.

A further object of the invention is to con struct the machine so thatthe same may be employed in connection with a single-or double list ofnames and addresses.

`With these and other objects in View as the nature of the invention isbetter understood the same consists in the novel construction,combination, and arrangements of parts hereinafter more fully described,illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention are susceptible to a number ofmodifications with- Outdepartingfrom the spirit or scope thereof; butthe preferred embodiment of the different improvements is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective View of ahand addressing-machine constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig.l. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional vieW of themachine. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation exposing the gearing for thefeeding andA pasting rollers. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of thestationary ledgerblade of the cutting mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail inperspective of the feeding-pawl of the feeding mechanism, showing indotted lines the position of the engaging lug when the feeding-pawl isdesigned to coperate with the outer ratchet-disk having the least numberof notches. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of thesupply-reel, showing the manner of securing one endof the paper stripthereto.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding -parts in the severalfigures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings, the numeral 1 designates an opencasing provided with the opposite parallel vertical side Walls 2 andwith a fiat bottom plate 3 connecting said side walls at the lower edgesthereof and presenting a fiat surface to rest upon the mail-matter to beaddressed when the machine is placed thereon. The said casing 1 is openat its upper side and is provided at the opposite ends thereof withfront and rear upstanding arm extensions 4 and 5, respectively, thefront upstanding arm extension 4 being longer than the rear extensionarm5 and provided in the inner closed side thereof with avertically-disposed guide-slot 6, the function of which will bepresently referred to. l

The flat bottom plate 3 of the opening of the casing l of the machineterminates short of one end of the casing, and between this end and thecontiguous end ,of the flat bottom plate the casing is provided with avertical guideway 7, leading upward from the bottom thereof and formedby the vertical slots 8 in the side walls 2 of the casing. said verticalguideway accommodates for movement therein a horizont-al vertically-reciprocating knife-platen 9, preferably rectangular in cross-section andhaving the extremities thereof slidably engaging in the side slots 8.knife-platen 9 Within the guide-slots, the ends of said platen have arabbeted engagement l0 with one edge of said slots, as is plainly shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings, such engagement serving to properly hold theknife- The To insure a proper guiding of the IOC platen 4in place, soasy to prevent longitudinal movement orf-displacement thereof While be;Ving reciprocatedwithin the guideway. Tlie vertically-reciprocatingknife-platen 9cop 5 crates with the fixedV ledger-blade 11',Whichregisters within the rabbeted seat 12, formed in the-teasing@Queen@ of the flee.. bottoniplate v3, and at this point thesaidfghottorn plate forming, a base for the seat 12, whereby theledger-blade '11 may be rigidly held infa. proper Working position. Theledger-blade, 12 is preferably detachably fastened Within` the casing,by means. of l the fastening-screws 14, passing through the fixedlngs,.1 5projectf.V ing from opposite inner sides of thecas'ing andengaging' threaded openings 16 in the endsoihe ledger-blade, esmas* he`plainly see-n from-Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings; The

. Vtapgularfincross-section, and in order'toUi'n-U sux'iethe'severing orcutting of theindividual labels;frfoin` the 'continuous paper stripgtheSeid. blade issliehelybeveld upon'iis upper.

side at 17;,Kand is alsor provided with; an incl cutting edge 18, whichcoperates with thelcutting edge of the knife-platen 9' tof produce `ashear cut when the said knife,- platendesceinds through the guideway andupon thepaperstrip projected over the inclino, cuttingedge 1.8, asshownin Fig. V3 'of thddravvings.

e T pr'oyide'for causing the opposingcutting n the lixedand movablelni'femem-l ber to properly copera te,' there is employed a-pa'ir ofjside-pressure springs 19,' which are detachably and rigidlyfastenedlat their up- "ds, asiat 20, tothe'inner side ofthefron't 1,1ef; :he easing, as siiown in Fie 310e the rajwings'., `lronl 'theirpointffattachtothejfd'fro'nt'end wall of the casing the` pressurespringel) project-downwardly inlina tion, and. thelovver free L portions.e-.Eeifleprihge extend diagonally aeree? the ghidewey- 7;" contiguous'to the "ledg'ebladel anddirectly4 in` the path of the v ertiallymovable knife platen 9. As said; .Knife-.platen 9` descends thesameengagesthe v freee'lid-portionsof the pressure-springs anApresses."said?'springs hack o'utfofthe one side oftheguideway; but saidl gsLcon-tipue to exerta, pressurek againste ide Vof`-th-e-plff,ttenl9so as to forcibly press `me. in a direction toward and against ger-bladeY11, so thatthe opposing cut; gesjwlill preserve their proper workingwhen-operative upon the soir, .Upehll entofthe knifef'pla'tc'n 9theside-pres: prin-gsxflQlspring back to their normal roei., ieee eoreseeheguideway 7- 1'1 ver-t ieally-moy'able knlfe-platen Q-has edafrornithe4upper side thereof a pair A.entically-mpvahl'e stems 21. These SQUUS.igidlytftted; at their lower ends', tofthe, vplaten and-work through`slide0pen' V saw? ferihed'fie e transverse"gfuidehfirQ-f.conectingfthesidewalls of l the casing 4at1;h`e

or fastened, as 21h31 to;theopnosieodenorsaidledgerblad-e v11c is alsopreferably recffjof the casing.

hehdlelpoeeeoit Sections@ and 33 may be readily grspedylehehandflofhelorlretehihg-holh 34 .to providerforfnorma down,movementitoprovide .forE the-neces. ty

-eeelog thioueh the operl` inner Side thereof,

base of the frontnpstanding tubular arm eitensio'ne of 'thelcasing.'Ihesaid transverse guide-bar\23 also has connected thereto a retractilespring 24, the lower end of which springis connected at 25 to the platen9, whereby the spring will serve to normally elclYate or. retract .theknifefplaten toa position l iat the upper endfofthe guideway 7 therefor.is provided with an u'pstanding rest-flange 13, 'i

. 75 To provide for the depression or downward movement of theknife-platen 9, the upper endsof the stems 2l are engaged, respectively,bythe opposite end portions of a presser-head 26, having a Wear-plate 27and `formed inte- 8o grally. at On'eendof a fiat handlecoreA 28, theotherendof which plate is providedwth a cross-bar 29, having at theextremities-thereof the pivot-ears 30, which are pivotally bolted.

tiorisof the rear unstahdiiie' aria t n-.-

Theheedlefeor StituieShreri-ion of.v thehehdle and-hariastened,`respectively, to. the` upper alle@ i. sides thereof the handlepieceslor sect j 9o and 33, respectively. TheU upper.

oratori when manipulating. the-mamme,

When the machine is in use, the,l 1 2 n d greep extends at, aniholinatiori. arosathe i Speoe betweeh-the-front and. rear ameriten,-si/ons 4 and oef; the -ofisinaehsl to. metido. for holdii'g.weiland-grasp, inoperatirenosi.- iiohheoeme-hesf Slidably. tted; Wit..the uhpiioted eetl. thereof aslidahle. ret eine# holifl; ih eoiiterenfloiwhieh.holtislnormehr.pnejeoied.beyehd'eheunpiyotesien. of, thehandgreep, So es to exteedihrongh eldi- IOO Work` Withihthereriioel.snide-Sinfonia ll-,ini

the ehei, eideotxthe f i'ont. armextene 1114..

` Ai, iis ihherehdthe,Sidablereteiningebolt 34 iS provided Withen..ootahdiugiiigerrnin.36, Working in end exposed. through sloti of theheed-greener@ eooil pressure-spring@ isset Within @Spring-recess,loweilso.4v formed, iii the Upper handle ofihememher, SaiQ'fnreS-fSure-.Spring bearing. at. oneend. against Jthe apro ieeingj 'elleoiiter. end; lhereof through. the With the i'eiainingfholten:

IIO

in place while being permitted afree up I 2U reciproeetioh. of the.knife-,nlateh hutshoulr. it bedesired to. dieoohneotthehandlefrom ,thefrohe arm. exterieiohof. the. easing. sohot.o D elliiio,` free eeeess tothe. intermedie-.the

1 25 it is-simply necessary to dra)'v. `upon. the linger- *pi'n 36 toprovide for withdrawing., theon'ter and the circular guard heads oranges 43, fitted to the ends of the drum, so as to prevent the paperstrip from working off of the guard heads or flanges 43 and adapted toengage over one end of the paper strip to detachably fasten the same tothe drum, and to assist in properly attaching one end of the paper stript0 the drum of the reel a clipplate 46 is fastened at one edge to theperiphery of the-drum and overh'angs the rodgroove 44 and the rodtherein. The nnfastened edge of the clip-plate 46, which overhangs therod-groove, permits of the ready insertion of one end of the paper striptherein, as may be readily seen from the drawings. The supply-reel 41 isrevolubly and detachably supported in place in the casing by adetachable spindle 47. The spindle 47 is withdrawable from tlie drum orbody 42 of the reel, and lthe opposite end portions of said spindledetachably and loosely engage in the bearing-openings in the side wallsof the casing, and at one end the spindle 47 is provided with afinger-knob 48 to permit of the reel being turned by hand to assist inproperly adjusting thepaper strip.

The too-rapid rotation of the supply-reel is prevented by means of atension-spring 49, loosely coiled upon the spindle 47 and interposedbetween one end of the reel and the adjacent side wall of the casing. Inother Words, the sprin g 49 places a tension upon the supply-reel, sothat the paper strip is kept reasonably taut during the feeding thereofto the cutting mechanism.

The feeding of the paper strip is accomplished through the medium of apair of upper and lower feeding-rollers 50 and 51, respectively, theupper of said feeding-rollers 50 having the shaft extremities thereofworking in the vertically-slotted bearings 52, fitted to the oppositeside walls of the casing and having arranged therein thepressure-springs 53, which provide for yieldingly holding the upperfeeding-roller 50 in contact with the lower roller 51. The twofeed-rollers 50 and 51 are not arranged in vertical alinement, but arelocated below and at one side of the vertical plane of the supply-reel,so as to freely receive therebetween the paper strip 40, containing thenames and addresses. The lower feeding-roller 51 rotates in a lixedplane and is mounted upon the shaft 54, journaled in the bearings at thesides of the casing and having fitted on one end thereof a gear-wheel55, the said gear meshing with a similar gear 56 on the coutiguouslshaftextremity of the upper feed-roller 50, whereby both rollers are causedto rotate in unison and in opposite directions to provide for thefeeding of the paper strip toward and over the stationary ledger-blade11. The shaft extremity of the lower feeding-roller 51, opposite thecog-gear 455, has fitted thereon a finger-button 51,

which permits of manual turning of the feeding-rollers when the paperstrip is being adj usted within the machine, and at the same end theshaft of the lower feeding-roller has mounted thereon a frame or spacedparallel ratchet-disks 58 and 59, respectively. The ratchet-disks 58 and59 are respectively of diderent sizes and have a different number ofperipheral notches, either of said ratchetdisks being brought into play,according to whether a single or a double list of names and addresses isbeing fed through the machine.

Coperating with either of the ratchet-disks 58 and 59 is a pawl-lever60, the lower free end of which lever plays within the annular groovebetween the two disks 58 and 59 and is .provided contiguous to such endwith a latteral engagement-lug 61, adapted to engage with the peripheralnotches of one of the disks. The said lug 61 projects from the innerside of the pawl-lever when the inner ratchet-disk 58 is used, and viceversa when the outer disk 59 is employed, as indicated by the full anddotted lines in detail Fig. l6lof the drawings. The paWl-lever 60 workswithin an offstanding U-shaped keeper 61a, projected from one side ofthe machine-casing and is pivotally connected at its upper end, as at62, to one end of a walking-lever 63. The walking-lever 63 is pivotedintermediate its ends,

as at 64, on the exterior of the machine-casing,

at one side thereof, and a normal separation of this lever and thepawl-lever is maintained by means of a coil-spring 65, interposedbetween the two levers and having its separate arms respectivelyconnected thereto. The pressure of the spring 65 serves to hold the freeend of the pawl-lever normally engaged with one of the ratchet-disks, sothat the lug 6l will successively engage the peripheralV link when theknife-platen is drawn to the upper end of the guideway by the retractilespring 24.

By reason of the connections described it will be obvious that upondepressing the` knife-platen 9 the walking-lever 63 will be swung in adirection for drawing back the free end of the pawl-lever to throw thelug 61 thereof in engagement with the next succeeding tooth or notch ofthe knife-platen.

Under the infiuence of the retractile spring 24 the walking-lever andthe pawl-lever will move in an opposite direction, thereby providing forautomaticallyY rotating or feeding the'rollers a suficient distance toadvance the IIO strip of paper for exposing another label. with! in theguideway, so as to be cut off by the' knife-platen and stamped uponthenewspa-v per or other mailing-matter.

' The lower feeding-roller 5l is surrounded at'itslower side by asemitubular guard 72,l

the medium of .the feed-ing mechanism justV described.

Thepaste is supplied to the paste-roller 74 from a paste-receptacle 77.tacle -77 is approximately rectangular-shaped and registers Within therear end portion ofthe openV casing, so as to rest therein upon the flatbottom plate 3 thereof. The receptacle 77 is provided at the top thereofwith a hinged cover 78 and 'has extended from the bottom Vportionthereof a feed-spout 79, which projects vupwardly to a slight incline,so that the mouth thereof will lie ina proximal relation to one side voflthe paste-roller 74 and will be covered rvby said paste-roller, so ,asthe latter rotates it will take up the supply of paste and'transfer thelatter yto the reverse side of the paper strip 40, which is fittedthereover. The paste-receptacle 7 7 is detachably looked in placethrough the med-ium of a latch-.plate 80. The latch-plate 80 ispi-votally mounted intermediate its ends, as at 8l, on the outer f sideof the paste-receptacle and is provided at its upper end with anoutturned fingerfiange-'82 and at its lower end with a hook A83, workingover .a guide-pin 84 and adapted to detachably engage the catch-lug 85,projectr ing from an upstanding flange at the rear end of themachine-casing, contiguous tothe bot tom vplate thereof, said fia-ngealso `serving as' a retaining-ledge to prevent outward dis; placement ofthe paste-receptacle. 86, interposed between the fingerfiange82 andtheouter side of the paste-receptacle, provides for normally holding thelatch-hook 83 in engagement with .the lug 85.

. The rest-flange .13 at one end of the flat bottom plate 3 has fittedto the upper edge thereof a plurality of regularly-spaced inclinedwire-delivery fingers 87 These ngers extendfrom one side of thepaste-rollerfM to a. poin-trcontiguous to the inclined cutting edge 18of the ledger-blade and provide a surface over vwhich the strip is fed,which obv-iates .the possibility of the paste accu mulating orcloggingin such manner as-to prevent the free-,passage of the paper strip.Transverseguide-rods 88 and S9 are arranged, re-

spectively, above the paste-roller 74 and the lower ends of .thedelivery-.fingers 87, and the paper strip passes beneath theseguide-rods;

so thatthe same is prevented from pucke-ringl Thepaste-recep- A spring fsieste up and is maintainedv in proper relation'to the ledger-blade. 11,overA which itis worked.' f `From the'foregoingit is thoughtthat theconstruction, operation, and' many advantages of the herein-describedaddressing-machine will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,and it will be understood that changes in the size, shape, proportion,-and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departingfrom the spirit or lsacriiicing any of the advantages of the invention.Having thus described the invention., what is claimed is- 'l Y Y l. Inan addressing-machine,thecasing'pro- Vvided with a guideway, aledger-blade. fitted to the casing, a spring-retracted reciprocatoryknife-platen, a hand-graspv arranged at the top of the .casing andpivoted at one fend to Lone part of the casing, said hand-graspbeingarranged todepress the knifeplaten,aspringprojected .retaining-boltmounted within the unpivoted portion of thehand-grasp, and having itsprojecting end .slidably interlocked with the'opposite part yof theVcasi-n g, and' feed ing mechanism for the paper strip having anoperative connection with the' knife-platen, substantially as described.

2. In anaddressing-machine,the casin provided with .a guideway, aledger-blade 'tted to the casing at one side of the gnideway, yareciprocatory knife-platen slidably 'mounted within the guideway andprovided with aA pair ofupwardly-extending stems, a spring for IOOnormally retractin g the knife-platen, va handgrasp pivotally lconnectedat one end to the casing, `and having its opposite end bearing upon thestems of lthe knife-platen, a sli'd'able interlocking connection betweenthe unpivted end of the hand-grasp yand the casing,

and the feedingmechanism for the paper strip, substantially as setforth. Y

`3. In an addressing-machine, the casing provided at the upperrside-thereof withu'pstanding front and rear' arm extensions, one ofwhich is provided with a vertical guide-slot,

said casing being further provided witha vertical guideway, theledger-blade, aspring-retracted knite-pl'atenslidably mounted within the-guideway .and having "upwardly-extending stems, a vertically-movablehand-grasp pivotally mounted at oneend on the rear arm extension of thecasi-ngand 'having its opposite end .bearing upon theplaten-stems, andaslidable spring-projected retaining-bolt mounted within the hand-graspand having the outer projecting end thereof engaged within theguide-slot `of the front arm extension of the casing, and feedingmechanism for the lpaper strip, substantially as set forth.

4. In anaddressing-machine,the casing having .a vertical guideway vandan arm lextension projecting from its upper side vand having va verticalguide-slot, of a ledger-blade, a spring-retracted knife-platen workingwithin the guideway., and having upwardly-extending stems, a hand-grasppivotally supported 4at one end upon the casing and provided at- IIO itsopposite end with a presser-head bearing upon the said stems, a slidablespring-projected retaining-bolt mounted within the hand-grasp and havingthe outer projecting end thereof working in the guide-slot of said guideextension, and the feeding mechanism for the paper strip, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In an addressing-machine, the combination with the casing andrelatively fixed and movable knife members, of a su pply-reel revolublyand detaehably supported within the casing and comprising a drum havingend heads and provided in the periphery thereof with a rod-receivinggroove, a rod in said groove and a clip-plate fastened at one edge tothe drum and overhanging said groove, and feedingrollers coperating withthe said su pplylreel, substantially as s et forth.

6. In an addressing-machine, the combination with the casing, and therelatively fixed and movable knife members, of a supply-reel for thepaper strip, a pair of superposed feed-V ing-rollers, one of saidrollers carrying a pair of different-sized ratchet-disks, aWalking-lever supported on the casing and having an operative connectionwith the movable knife member, and a pawl-lever also connected with thewalking-lever and cooperating with either ofsaid disks, substantially asset forth.

7. In an addressing-machine, the combination with the easing and therelatively fixed and movable knife members, of the supplyreel for thepaper strip, a pair of superposed feeding-rollers mounted within thecasing,- one of said rollers carrying upon one of its shaft extremitiesa pair of spaced differentsized ratchet disks, and anautomatically-operating pawl-lever cooperating with either of saiddisks, substantially as set forth.

8. In an addressing-machine` the combination with the casing and therelatively fixed and movable knife members, of the supplyreel for thepaper strip, a pair of superposed feeding-rollers mounted in the casing,one of said feeding-rollers carrying upon one of the shaft extremitiesthereof a ratchet-disk, a walking-lever pivoted intermediate its ends onthe casing and having a slotted link connection at one end with themovable knife member, and a spring-depressed pawl-lever having pivotalconnection with the opposite end of the walking-lever and provided witha lateral engagement-lug coperating with the Vteeth or notches of theratchet-disk, substantially as set forth.

9. In an addressing-machine, a casing provided at one end with anupstanding Iiange having a catch-lug, the cutting mechanism, the feedingmechanism, a paste-roller coperating with the feeding mechanism,and apastereceptacle arranged within the easing upon the bottom thereofbehind said upstanding flange, said paste-receptacle being provided atits outer side with a pivotal spring-actuated latch having at its upperend a fingerliange,and at its lower end a hook detachably engaging saidcatch-lug.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ADDISON T. WENTWORTII. lVitnesses:

F. L. ARTHAUD, J. L. PORTER.

